NFL star Johnson cleared in lawsuit

HAYWARD  Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is not liable for damages in a lawsuit filed by a Richmond man who sought $2.1 million, a jury decided Tuesday.

"There were no damages awarded and no finding of any harm," Johnson's attorney, John Burris, said after the verdict was read.

Johnson has been embroiled in a civil dispute with John Mahannah Jr.  the one-time boyfriend of Johnson's ex-wife, Shikiri Hightower-Johnson  for two years.

Mahannah accused the receiver of negligent false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery and defamation after the NFL player learned of the romantic relationship between his former wife and Mahannah, an aspiring rap artist and party promoter.

The claims were based on a series of threatening telephone messages left on Mahannah's cell phone by Johnson, and an encounter between the two at a funeral in Oakland in January 2004.

Johnson never denied leaving threatening messages on Mahannah's phone, or that he resented Mohannah for romancing the woman he still thought of reconciling with.

"It's a lesson for me and a lesson for people trying to take advantage of me," said a relieved Johnson, who was forced to miss several training sessions with his team to attend court proceedings, which began May 3. "It's time for me to put this stuff behind me.

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Mahannah's attorney, George Holland, said he did his best in representing his client. But in the end, the jury simply decided against him.

"You do the best you can to present your case," Holland said. "We presented the evidence to the jury, and I'm satisfied with the jury's determination."

Burris had predicted that Mahannah had little chance of winning.

"From Keyshawn's point of view, it was a great victory, a reaffirmation," Burris said. "We said early on that this case was a hustle."